We lost all our chooks to foxes recently, but they always slept on a perch, aside from the occasional clucky one. They used to all line up in their breed groups. The silkies would all perch together, the silver spangled Hamburgs would stay together, the black Hamburgs etc.

They mix it up, sometimes 4 in a nesting box , so DH removed a divider to give them more room. When it's hot and they're bothered they sleep on the perch inside the house, or some hot nights they sleep outside on the perches in their run, all fox proof of course.

Some nights they seem to pile in one nesting box. Other nights on the perch. They learnt to sleep there by themselves - except when we added some to the flock, I used to put them up with the others sometimes or else they'd sleep down by themselves.

We had one nesting box for each chook - as we were advised to do. But they only ever used one... So we took some away.

Also re chicken pellets, are ther steroids in them? The one I bought have a certain % of something, crap can't remember, maybe protein?

Is there usually steroids in it too?

I didn't think they were allowed to put steroids in the food?

Usually, laying pellets will advertise a % of protein because it's supposed to help with egg production. I personally avoid them and am happy to have hens that aren't so 'productive'. I look for feed that doesn't have meat used as a protein source because my thinking is that although chickens are omnivores, they are unlikely to naturally go eat a cow/fish/pig/whatever that meat meal is made from. I rather give them good quality grain and provide them access to fertile areas to forage for their own 'protein' of grubs, insects and worms. Lots of leafy greens are important too.

Usually, laying pellets will advertise a % of protein because it's supposed to help with egg production. I personally avoid them and am happy to have hens that aren't so 'productive'. I look for feed that doesn't have meat used as a protein source because my thinking is that although chickens are omnivores, they are unlikely to naturally go eat a cow/fish/pig/whatever that meat meal is made from. I rather give them good quality grain and provide them access to fertile areas to forage for their own 'protein' of grubs, insects and worms. Lots of leafy greens are important too.